Sound Innovations for String Orchestra: Creative Warm-Ups (Viola)

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Sound Innovations for String Orchestra: Creative Warm-Ups – Viola Book

Build better intonation, stronger rhythm, confident bow technique, and more creative musicianship with Sound Innovations for String Orchestra: Creative Warm-Ups – Viola. Written by Bob Phillips, Kirk Moss, Matt Turner, and Stephen Benham, this 56-page intermediate viola book gives string students focused warm-up exercises that develop skills they can immediately apply to orchestra rehearsal and performance. 

Designed for intermediate string orchestra, Creative Warm-Ups goes beyond routine scales and exercises by concentrating on four essential areas of string playing:

• Sound Intonation
• Sound Rhythms
• Sound Bowing Fluency and Choreography
• Sound Creativity

Teachers can use the material as individual daily warm-ups or organize the exercises into structured instructional units according to the needs of their students. 

Develop Better Viola Intonation and Listening

Strong intonation begins with learning how to listen.

The intonation activities help students develop higher-level listening skills through work with intervals, chord tones and balance, drones, extended hand patterns, and major, minor, diminished, and augmented chord qualities. 

Rather than treating intonation as simply playing the “right note,” these exercises help young musicians hear how their individual part functions within the sound of the entire string ensemble.

Build Stronger Rhythm Skills

Creative Warm-Ups also helps students learn to analyze, audiate, and perform rhythms, with exercises designed to encourage rhythmic independence and stronger large-ensemble rhythmic playing. 

That makes the book particularly useful for orchestra directors who want warm-up time to address actual ensemble skills—not simply fill the first few minutes of rehearsal.

Improve Bowing Fluency

The bowing exercises encourage viola lists to become comfortable using the entire bow and beginning strokes at different points of the bow.

Students work toward more expressive bow strokes and fluid string crossings while developing greater physical control and confidence. 

Introduce Improvisation and Musical Creativity

Here's what really separates this book from a typical orchestra warm-up collection.

Students are introduced to a progressive sequence of exercises and repertoire designed to give them tools for improvisation. They explore improvisation in several different musical styles, including:

• Classical
• Jazz
• Latin
• Rock
• Improvisation over a drone

That gives orchestra teachers an opportunity to develop creativity alongside traditional string technique.

Online Audio and Video Resources

The book references online video demonstrations of important skills and audio tracks for selected exercises, providing additional resources for both teachers and students. 

The title is also available within MakeMusic Cloud, where compatible digital resources include accompaniment and practice tools. 

Works with Sound Innovations Sound Development

Creative Warm-Ups complements Sound Innovations: Sound Development for Intermediate String Orchestra, making it an excellent supplemental resource for orchestra programs already using the Sound Innovations curriculum. 

Because the sections can be used independently, directors can also incorporate the book into other string orchestra methods and rehearsal programs.

Product Details

Title: Sound Innovations for String Orchestra: Creative Warm-Ups
Subtitle: Exercises for Intonation, Rhythm, Bowing, and Creativity for Intermediate String Orchestra
Edition: Viola Book
Authors: Bob Phillips, Kirk Moss, Matt Turner & Stephen Benham
Level: Intermediate
Series: Sound Innovations for String Orchestra
Publisher: Alfred Music
Format: Book
Pages: 56
Alfred Item Number: 00-44210
ISBN-10: 1-4706-3869-X
ISBN-13: 978-1-4706-3869-6
UPC: 038081529936

Other Creative Warm-Ups Editions

For directors ordering for an entire orchestra program, Alfred also publishes corresponding editions for Viola (00-44211), Cello/Bass (00-44212), and Teacher's Score (00-44213)